Archive for weekend debate
The weekend debate: Is mandatory arbitration the answer to public transport strikes?
Here’s your starter for ten in our weekend slot where we throw up an idea or thought for debate… With the Olympics approaching and not all the details of staff conditions on London’s public transport settled, talk of how easy or not it should be to call a strike is often popping up in political [...]
The weekend debate: should benefits for pensioners be restricted?
Here’s your starter for ten in our weekend slot where we throw up an idea or thought for debate… Nick Clegg and Iain Duncan Smith have both been arguing within the government for rich pensioners to have their benefits cut: Nick Clegg is backing calls for cuts in pension benefits such as winter fuel payments [...]
The weekend debate: Formula 1 Grand Prix in Bahrain
Here’s your starter for ten in our weekend slot where we throw up an idea or thought for debate… Two questions for you to ponder: Should the Formula 1 Grand Prix go ahead? Do you think the drivers should take personal responsibility for their decisions on whether to drive or not, or is that a [...]
The weekend debate: Who are the five most influential women of all time?
Here’s your starter for ten in our weekend slot where we throw up an idea or thought for debate… Borrowing from Lynne Featherstone’s blog: It’s International Women’s Day on Thursday – and my local paper, The Journal, have asked me to name my top 5 influential women of all time. I know who mine are [...]
The weekend debate: Should music be priced by morality?
Here’s your starter for ten in our weekend slot where we throw up an idea or thought for debate… Sony caught a lot flack this week for initially raising the price on Whitney Houston’s songs after her death (a rise since recanted). Was Sony initially right and the pricing of products like music should be [...]
The weekend debate: Old versus young at work
Here’s your starter for ten in our weekend slot where we throw up an idea or thought for debate… During the week Foreign Secretary William Hague talked of having a network of diplomats who are past their retirement age of 60 but can be called on to help out at times of international crisis. However [...]
The weekend debate: How ethical should our foreign policy be?
Here’s your starter for ten in our weekend slot where we throw up an idea or thought for debate… The military coup in Egypt was met with widespread international support – because it deposed President Mubarak. Similarly, the sending of troops into Libya by Britain and other countries to help people leave has been met [...]
The weekend debate: House prices, up or down?
Here’s your starter for ten in our weekend slot where we throw up an idea or thought for debate… Either actual or projected falls in house prices are almost always described as bad news in both the media and political circles. Yet it is also common to hear people complain about the lack of affordable [...]
The weekend debate: Is it part of government’s role to encourage political campaigning?
Here’s your starter for ten in our weekend slot where we throw up an idea or thought for debate… During the week, Lord McNally said in Parliament, as part of an answer to a written question, that “The Government do not have a role in encouraging party political activity on the ground”. Is he right: [...]
The weekend debate: How do we make government think long term?
Here’s your starter for ten in our weekend slot where we throw up an idea or thought for debate… “We must think long term” is a common cry in politics and government. Far easier said than done, but whether it is investing in early years education, making decisions over building new physical infrastructure such as [...]
